thompson



Patented Aug. 11,1885.

R. H.'S, THOMPSON.

ELECTRIC PRMER.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

RICHARD H. S. THOMPSON, OF NEWT YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC Past/1ER( SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,974, dated August 1l, 1885.

Application filed November 2S, ISS-l. (No model.)

To all whom 1D: may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD H. S.T1Ion1 soN, a citizen ot' the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and uset'ul lmprovements in 'Electric Cartridges, ot' which the following is a speci iication.

My invention relates to cartridges, and more especially those used in tire-arms wherein electricity is used as a means for igniting the explosive material; and it has for its object to render such cartridges less expensive and more certain ot' action; and to these ends my invention consists in an electrical primer for cartridges constructed as more particularly pointed out hcrcinaiter,and adapted to befitted into the central depression or recess of the cartridge and to be removed for further use.

Heretot'ore cartridges have been supplied with means for igniting the explosive, but these have been formed as a part ofthe cartridge itself, and were cumbersome and expensive, and generally open to other objectionssuch as requiring the cartridge to be placed in the gun in a certain specified relation so as to bring the electrodes in proper position. My

cartridge of this character.

invention overcomes these objections and enables the use ot' the ordinary form ot' cartridge now on the market, the primer being adapted to be applied to the recess in the end for the reception ofthe usual fulminate, thereby saving the expense of' new machinery to form a The cartridges may be reloaded as long as they withstand the wear and tear of the explosive, and then the primer may be removed and applied to other cartridgecases. The electric primer may be made in various ways in carrying out my invention,as will be manifest; and I have further improved such cartridge by so arranging the electrodes that the cartridge may he inserted in the grurbarrel in any position and still be adapted to make connection with the electrodes of the conductors leading from the source of electric energy.

M y cartridge is adapted for use more espeeially in my improved electric gun, described and claimed by me in my application No. 104,760, tiled August L3, 1883, but it may of course be used in any electric tire-arm.

Referring to the accompanyingdrawings for a more particular description of my invention,

Figure l is a. perspective view oi" a` cartridge containing one i'orm ot' my improved primers.

Fig. 2 is a section ot' the same. lr`ig. ."3 is an end view. Fig. ft is an enlarged section showing the primer removed. Figs. 5, li, 7, b', and J are views showing modilied iorms ot' primer.

Ihe cartridge shell or case A may be ot' metal, paper having a metal end, or any other convenient construction, and in place of the usual fulminate the recess u. serves as a holder for the electric primer .1%. 'Ihe body ot' the primer may be made ot' any suitable non-conducting materia-l, and may have a mass ol' fulminating material, If, on its end, in which the terminals ofthe conductors are embedded at a'proper distance apart, as shown in Fig. 4, as when the secondary spark is used to ignite the explosive, or a conductor ot' high resistance may be embedded therein, as shown in Fig. (i, when the ignition is caused by the heated or incandescent conductor. In some cases the t'uhninate is not applied to the igniter, but may be placed inside the cartridge in any suitable manner, or the powder or other charge may be placed directly in contact with the conductor.

In Fig. S the igniter B is shown as having two conductors passing through it, each arranged eccentrieally with the exterior terminals, c c, flattened or expanded, and extended partial ly around the surta-ce ot" the non-conducting body et the igniter, so that the electrodes may come in contact with the respective terminals, no matter what the position ol' lheca-rtridge.

In Fig. S) another, and perhaps preferable, form ot' igniter is shown, wherein but a single conductor, d, passes through the body ot' the igniter, and this is arranged in the center thereof, the other terminal, c, passing up the side ot' the concondueting body and making contact with the metallic body of the shell or case around the opening or recess. In this arrangement the central terminal ot' the conductor is always in the cent er of the cartridge, and a single moving electrode connected to the electric source need be used, the other terminal being connected to the breech-block or other part of the gun which is in contact with the metal of the cartridge-case, and thereby completing the electric circuit through the igniter.

IOO

I prefer to makethe primer tapering` toward its forward end so that it will not -only tit firmly and securely in the recess of the cartridge, but will be prevented from being forced too far therein by the iiring-pin impingingagainst it. The electrodes may also be made tapering, or otherwise so'iormed as to attain i the same end.

The insulating` material may be of any suit able kind, and may be put in the recess in a plastic state, hardening afterward.

Other modifications of my igniter are apl parentto those skilled in the art, and I wish i it to be understood that l. do not wish to be limited to the precise details ot' construction I Shown.

From the above it will be seen that the gist l of my present invention consists in making` a separate and removable igniter, adapted to the l ordinary forms of cartridgeease, thatcan be manufactured as articles ot' trade, and applied, much the same as when a'n ordinary percussion-cap or other mechanical igniter is used.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is y l. As a new article of manufacture, an electrical igniter for cartridges, consisting ot' a non-conducting body, and a conductor embedded therein and arranged to make Contact with the firing electrodes, the igniter being constructed to be applied to and removed from the priming;` recess ot' an ordinary cartridge, snbstantiall y as described.

2. An electrical igniter, consisting` of a body of non-conducting' material, having;` electric conductors-einbedded therein, and having a recess in its forward end containing the explosive or fulniinate, the whole being adapted to lit the priming recess ot' an ordi nary cartridge, substantially as described.

3. An electrical igniter for cartridges, conA sisting ot' a body of noneconducting material, electric conductors embedded in such material, the outer ends ot' the conductors being,- bent and curved, as described, and a muss of fuhninating material held in a recess in the front ot' the igniter, in which the toi-ward parts of the conductors are embedded, substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof l have. signed my naine to this specitication in the. presence oi" two subseribinr witnesses.

RICHARD H. S. 'l'lIOMlSON Witnesses: ,A

W. E. WINsou., H. MoLLER. 

